NEWS & EVENTS
This page includes both forthcoming and past events, as well as recent interviews. It also provides information about publications, compositions, and workshops. You will find details on adjudicating, presentations, reviews, as well as holiday and celebratory posts.
A few thoughts on piano teaching in Singapore & Malaysia
I spent an energising and inspiring Summer period away from home this year. For me, this was the perfect way to enjoy a substantial break from my conventional teaching and writing. After working trips to the US (New York) and Germany (Gelsenkirchen), I savoured a relaxing, short holiday in Devon (South West of the UK)…
Practising Piano Waves
Piano Waves consists of five little pieces for the intermediate pianist; approximately Grade 4 – 6 level ABRSM. They were written in 2016, and have proved popular with all ages, but particularly with teenagers. They were inspired by my time giving recitals on cruise ships. This provided ample opportunity to observe the sea in all…
Polishing Your Piano Technique: Jackdaws Course 2018
If you fancy a relaxing weekend in the most beautiful English country setting, with scrumptious home cooked food, you will love the courses held at Jackdaws Music Educational Trust. There is plenty of opportunity to hone your piano skills whilst meeting new like-minded friends. Situated in Somerset, near Frome, this music course venue is exceptional….
A student’s memories: Patricia Carroll (1932 – 2017)
Last Friday I attended the funeral – probably the most beautiful and moving I have ever witnessed – of one of my piano professors, and I felt compelled to write this short, personal reflection. Teachers have a huge impact on our lives, particularly when we worked with them as youngsters; they influence everything from repertoire…
Play it again: PIANO Book 1
About the Series My four-book piano course, Play it again: PIANO has been written with the ‘returner’ in mind. Book 1 takes pianists back to Grade 1 level of the British music examination board standard. The entire course consists of 97 piano pieces from the Prep Book through to Book 3. Most pieces are drawn…
2017 Beethoven Junior Intercollegiate Piano Competition
On Sunday I had the wonderful opportunity to sit on the jury of the 2017 Beethoven Junior Intercollegiate Piano Competition. Organised by the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe, the competition is held every year and proffers young pianists the chance to perform a programme built entirely from the German Master’s extraordinary output. Each participant attends…
HAPPY HOLIDAYS: A trip down memory lane
As Christmas is upon us once more, I thought it might be worthwhile revisiting my top 8 most popular blog posts of 2016. So here they are in order of popularity. I hope you have found my musings and teaching tips useful. If there’s a topic I haven’t yet covered, please get in touch if…
Overseas Masters Winter Piano Academy 2016
I ended a busy year with two days of classes at the Yehudi Menuhin School last week, teaching on the Overseas Masters Winter Piano Academy. I love giving these classes and have done so on several previous occasions in 2012 and 2014, because the academy runs every other year. Malaysian pianist Bobby Chen organises the…
The Faber Music Piano Anthology
In 2016 I was invited to compile a new anthology for leading UK music publisher Faber Music. This hefty volume is designed to be a gift book for anyone who enjoys playing, or who fancies exploring, a large and varied collection of piano works. The volume was first available in a luxury hardback edition featuring…
A Weekend at Jackdaws Music Education Trust
I had the pleasure of tutoring a second piano course at Jackdaws Music Education Trust over the weekend. Jackdaws offer residential and one-day instrumental and vocal courses. They also provide various education projects and a Young Artists Programme. Additionally, there are performances by world-class musicians. Piano courses are becoming increasingly popular. This includes weekend courses…
The Chicago Amateur Piano Competition
Love them or loathe them, piano competitions are more popular than ever before and there are no shortage of entrants, irrespective of standard or ability. And subjective as they are, piano contests can fire the imagination, motivating players to reach new heights in their quest for keyboard perfection. For a professional pianist a competition has…
Meet the Judges Live Stream Interview
This week I’m in Chicago adjudicating at the Chicago Amateur Piano Competition. Judging starts today but this competition offers an impressive events roster, a fairly unique concept amongst competitions, which runs in tandem, therefore proceedings actually started last night. Fifty-five talented pianists will play a short programme over the next two days. The finals will…